The Cost of Divorce

Hi. One of the greatest fears that clients have with respect to legal representation is the cost. I totally understand that. The problem is that lawyers bill on an hourly basis, so it's very difficult to tell you exactly what your case will cost because it depends on the amount of time that's involved in seeking a resolution for you.

If you achieve a settlement at the kitchen table where you and your partner come to an agreement or you go to mediation and a third party helps the two of you negotiate an agreement and then you just come to us and we do a separation agreement for you, well that will help minimize your cost because we won't need to spend as much time negotiating an agreement.

Another way of getting a resolution is through collaborative practice. It's a very effective process but there will be more time involved in it, so it's going to cost a little bit more money. Lawyer negotiated settlements are often very effective, especially in terms of the cost, but the problem with a lawyer negotiated agreement is that it may result in court proceedings.

Court and arbitration is the most expensive process. The cost can be astronomical, tens of thousands even hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees depending on the complexity of the case and how far along it goes in the court process.

It's certainly more expensive to go to court and better to try to negotiate an amicable settlement so as to minimize your fees. The best next step for you would be to sit down with one of our lawyers for a consultation. Then they can talk to you about your case, your situation, discuss which process might work best for you and give you a better estimate of the average cost of your particular case.

I hope this has been helpful.

Barrie Office
124 Dunlop Street West
Barrie, ON L4N 1B1
(705) 727-4242

Newmarket Office
1195 Stellar Drive, Unit 4
Newmarket, ON L3Y 7B8
(289) 319-0634

Oakville Office
209 Speers Road, Unit 13
Oakville, ON L6K 0H5
(905) 291-6634

St. Catharines Office
110 James Street, Unit 105
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7E8
(905) 291-5231

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http://galbraithfamilylaw.com/ - visit here for more information!